Akron Life December 2022

Police greeted Lambert March 6, 2021, the day Just A Dad’s store opened. They were there to block off Kenmore Boulevard for its grand opening, but still, seeing police was jarring. “My past life, you walk into that situation, you’re going to jail,” Lambert says. “My life had changed.” Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan helped him cut a red ribbon, and customers quickly bought apparel — all of it. “I printed merch to like 6 in the morning, and then woke up at 9,” Lambert says. “We ended up selling out of everything. We had 600 items.” The store-emptying success wasn’t the end of the excitement that day. One community member presented Lambert a check worth six months of the store’s rent. “What the company is about is inspiring people to change, to make a difference,” Lambert says, “and coming together as a community, so we can grow together.” That mission has remained, exemplified on the apparel. Rotating pieces, many of which Lambert designs, include T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies with sayings like “Recovery is priceless,” “Prayers are free,” “Stop the vio lence,” “Inspire,” “Be the change Akron needs” and more, available in-person and online, with a percentage of each item benefiting future Just A Dad community events. Positivity flourishes inside the store, with colorful, playful murals of aliens, cartoons and inspirational quotes painted by local artists and a wall with painted handprints signifying those who helped make the store what it is. And depending on when you stop by, Amelia might suggest pieces for you to buy and help you cash out. Her favorite thing to do at the store is to be the “teller,” she says. She swipes cards and bags apparel. She attends every Just A Dad event she can, looking forward to them as they approach.

“She remembers very, very well, like exactly how many days away it is,” Lambert says. “It’s cool to see my daughter soak it up like a sponge, everything going on, the lovingness that she’s learning.” Amelia even helps Lambert prepare. Before the first gift giveaway, the pair gathered about seven shopping carts full of toys and checked out. “She looks at the cashier and she goes, You think all these toys are for me, huh? ... We’re giving these all to kids, ” Lambert says. “She actually understood.” Her favorite events are the holiday gift give aways because she loves Christmas, Kenmore First Fridays because of the interactions, and of course, the trunk or treats because she gets candy, she says. But Just A Dad business is only one of many things the father-daughter pair do together, often hitting up Akron RubberDucks baseball games, carnivals, fireworks shows and trampo line parks — the latter is Amelia’s favorite, she says with a smile, but it’s Lambert’s least favor ite — “I’m in fear she’s gonna break her leg,” he says. He adds that they both love going on hikes and going out to eat and cooking because they share steak as a favorite food. “We always have fun,” Lambert says. Amelia fits right in at Just A Dad. Lambert says she gets a lot of attention at events, but she reciprocates. “She can also give love out,” he says. “She’s like a mini-me — like the good version — and it’s beautiful.”

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